I am surprised Kreg said that because the new ones are very different. I h
ave probably driven 1,500 of the original screws in both fine and coarse th
read over the past 5-6 years. I never broke one or stripped a head; and I
had very few with defective square-drive recesses (five or six at most). I
n addition to pocket holes I use quite a few for general utility screws.
I am about 100 into a box of 1,000 of the new screws and I have stripped a
couple of the new heads and popped the heads off of a couple. They are dif
ferent.
RonB

I am about 100 into a box of 1,000 of the new screws and I have
stripped a couple of the new heads and popped the heads off of a
couple. They are different.
---------------------------------------------------------
You need to communicate your problem to Kreg so they can investigate.
As a marketing/sales kind of guy, I'd certainly want to know.
You can't fix it if you don't know it's broke.
Lew

Did it Lew.
I sent them a message from their support site last night and mentioned a co
uple of strings that have appeared here on rec.woodworking recently. Your e
arlier comments inspired me. I also come from a business development / sup
port background. Hearing folks call your baby ugly isn't pleasant but good
companies often respond with change.
The odd thing is their site still shows the old screws. The plated ones I
got came from Amazon, in a Kreg box. Oh-oh ...... I'm starting to sound li
ke a conspiracy theorist. Counterfeit screws?!?!?!
RonB

Thanks for sending them your message. Maybe Kreg will take the issue
seriously if they hear the same problem from enough folks that actually
use the product. Sounds like the good "bronze" screws are the last of
the old stock, if you can find them. I think I was more impressed with
the screws than the Kreg jig when I first saw Craig Sommerfeld demo the
Kig at a wood working show in the late 80's. Oh for a good "bronze"
Kreg screw.
Bruce

I agree totally. The new ones tend to cam out very easily. Of the
1000's of the "bronze" screws I driven, I've never snapped a screw or
popped a head. The zinc ones are different. I wish I could have seen
my face when the very first zinc screw I drove snapped off in a red oak
face frame - same drill, same settings as the old screws. After the
scond broken screw on the same face frame, the zinc ones went into the
trash.
And yes, the old bronze ones used to make a great utility screw.
Bruce

I have not noticed, that I recall, an increase in breakage of the new
ones over the old however the shiny ones remind me of the cheaply made
ones, purchased 10 at a time for 79 cents, in a plastic pouch.
Typically local lumber yards and or McFeeleys still have the unplated
versions.

I have driven probably 3000 of the new plated screws and I haven't noticed
any issues at all. Maybe you fellas are getting a bad batch. I don't drive
the beejesus out of them either. I snug them up until the part is good and
secure and they work fine. I don't use an impact driver either. Probably 90
% of the screws get driven with a 12v drill/driver.
RP

d any issues at all. Maybe you fellas are getting a bad batch. I don't driv
e the beejesus out of them either. I snug them up until the part is good an
d secure and they work fine. I don't use an impact driver either. Probably
90% of the screws get driven with a 12v drill/driver.

I usually ease in with a regular 14v drill. Never an impact wrench.
I did send a message from the Kreg site and got a quick response offering a
replacement box of screws. I sent a backup message telling them that the
problem screws were part of an order of 1,250 screws (1,000ct + 250ct to ge
t over Amazon free shipping limit). I am not really expecting free boxes o
f screws; just wondering whey the changed from a tried-and-true product to
the new ones.
RonB

I usually ease in with a regular 14v drill. Never an impact wrench.
I did send a message from the Kreg site and got a quick response offering a
replacement box of screws. I sent a backup message telling them that the
problem screws were part of an order of 1,250 screws (1,000ct + 250ct to get
over Amazon free shipping limit). I am not really expecting free boxes of
screws; just wondering whey the changed from a tried-and-true product to the
new ones.
=========================================================================================================Cheaper.

ced any issues at all. Maybe you fellas are getting a bad batch. I don't dr
ive the beejesus out of them either. I snug them up until the part is good
and secure and they work fine. I don't use an impact driver either. Probabl
y 90% of the screws get driven with a 12v drill/driver.

a replacement box of screws. I sent a backup message telling them that th
e problem screws were part of an order of 1,250 screws (1,000ct + 250ct to
get over Amazon free shipping limit). I am not really expecting free boxes
of screws; just wondering whey the changed from a tried-and-true product t
o the new ones.

I got another email from the guy at Kreg over the weekend. He maintains th
ey haven't had much trouble with the new screws - BUT they are going back t
o their traditional square-drive screws.
RonB

ins they haven't had much trouble with the new screws - BUT they are going
back to their traditional square-drive screws.

ad.
I got a little grief here a ways back for saying that I needed to put
modest pressure behind the bit in order to get it to stay in the hole.
I was (and am) using the plated dual-drive screws. I have a feeling
that the "dual-ness" may be part of the problem.

Hard to say but a worn bit will slip out if the bit is past it's prime. For
many many years I have used the combo screws, non, plated that McFeeley's
sells with out issue. For the more heavily plated bits that McFeeley's
sells they offer a special under sized bit. I would suspect the plating
giving more grief than the combo head style.

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